Coyote Buttes North Advanced Lottery (The Wave) FAQs

General Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for Coyote Buttes North (The Wave)?

You must have a permit through the Advanced or Daily Lotteries for hiking Coyote Buttes North (The Wave). The fees are $7 per person per day. Dogs must be included on the permit, and the fee is $7 per dog.

Can I get a self-pay permit for Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) at the Wire Pass Trailhead?

No. Self-pay permits are only available for day-use within Buckskin Gulch, Paria Canyon, and Wire Pass. These permits do not give you access to Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) or South. You must purchase permits for Coyote Buttes North through the Advanced or Daily Lotteries.

Are there other day hiking options outside of Coyote Buttes recreation area but within Paria Wilderness that are accessible from the Wire Pass Trailhead? 

Self-pay permits are available for day-use within Buckskin Gulch, Paria Canyon and Wire Pass. However, these permits do not give you access to Coyote Buttes North or South. You must purchase permits for Coyote Buttes through the Advanced or Daily Lotteries. 

Am I limited to one trip to The Wave per year?

No, but you cannot hold more than one permit for a permit area at the same time.

Am I limited to one trip to The Wave per month?

No, but you cannot hold more than one permit for a permit area at the same time.

Is there a daily limit on people and/or groups in in Coyote Buttes North (The Wave)?

Yes. We allow up to 64 people per day and/or 16 groups per day (whichever comes first) into Coyote Buttes North (The Wave).

What is the group size limit?

No more than six people per group. If you exceed this limit, you may be cited. Joining people on a separate permit to exceed six people is prohibited. Everyone, regardless of age, must be included on the permit. This includes infants that are not walking.

Dogs do not count toward the group limit, but there is a charge for dogs.

Once I have my permit, can I change dates or group size?

There will be no changes or modifications allowed to permit dates, applicant name, alternate permit holders and group size once the lottery has run. Prior to the lottery running, applications may be updated through your Recreation.gov account.

If the primary permit holder cannot make the trip on the permit date, the permit can only be used by the alternate permit holders listed on the permit. If a primary or alternate permit holder is not present, the permit is invalid.

Are commercial guide permits available?

No, authorized commercial guides compete for the same permits as the general public.

Do the required permits apply to the entire wilderness?

Permits for Coyote Buttes North are valid only for Coyote Buttes North, for the group size and date specified. They are not valid for other permit areas. Permit fees are charged for the Coyote Buttes North and Coyote Buttes South, Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass and the Paria Canyon permit areas only. The rest of the surrounding areas are open to use without permits or limits. 

There is no overnight camping authorized for any of the permits mentioned above. Visit Recreation.gov for information on Paria Canyon Overnight permits. For Paria overnight permits, you must apply for, obtain, and purchase a permit in advance and pick up your permit in person within 10 days of the start date of your trip.

Can I get a "rain check" after I pay my Daily or Advanced Lottery fees for the Wave?

No. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. We cannot issue "rain checks" for any reason.

Can I get a refund for my Daily or Advanced Lottery fee for the Wave?

No, fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Advanced Lottery Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an Advanced Lottery permit online?

For Coyote Buttes North, you will need to enter the Advanced Lottery to obtain a permit four months in advance. Detailed lottery information can be found below. 

Apply...	for a permit during...	Lottery runs at 9 am Mountain time
Jan. 1-31	May	Feb. 1
Feb. 1-28	June	March 1
March 1-31	July	April 1
April 1-30	August	May 1
May 1-31	September	June 1
June 1-30	October	July 1
July 1-31	November	Aug. 1
Aug. 1-31	December	Sept. 1
Sept. 1-30	January	Oct. 1
Oct. 1-31	February	Nov. 1
Nov. 1-30	March	Dec. 1
Dec. 1-31	April	Jan. 1

How many Advanced Lottery permits do you issue online?

Limits are based on people and groups visiting the area each day. A daily maximum of 48 people or 12 groups (whichever comes first) is awarded through the online lottery system.

How does the Advanced Lottery work?

Coyote Buttes North is an internationally renowned hiking destination. In order to make it fair for everyone, we use an Advanced and Daily Lottery system. The four-month Advanced Lottery works like this:

• You must apply four months in advance.
• You have an entire month to apply.
  • (For example, you can apply January 1-31, and the online lottery would occur February 1 for permits to visit The Wave in May.)
• You can choose up to three entry dates per application. If you are a successful applicant, you will only be authorized one trip.
• There is a non-refundable $9 administrative fee to apply per application.
• There is no age limit to apply, but there must be adult accompaniment for the hike.
• We will notify you on the first of the month via e-mail if your application was successful or not.
• See the "Lottery Example" below for a more detailed explanation.

Advanced Lottery Example

Let's say you want to visit Coyote Buttes North in April. Here's the procedure you would follow.

• Go to the Permit Page between December 1 and December 31.
• Follow the directions, choosing up to three possible entry dates. If successful, you will only be authorized one date.
• You will be notified via e-mail the first day in January whether your lottery application was successful or not. If you do not receive a notification, call 877-444-6777. You must check whether your application was successful. If your application was successful, you must accept your permits by the 15th of the month or your permits will be relinquished.
• After being notified, you will have 14 calendar days to pay for your permit. You can pay online with your credit card. Your e-mail notification will contain a link to a secure web page, where you can pay and submit the remainder of your trip information.
• We will mail your permit to you four to six weeks after you have paid your fees.

How long will it take to get my Advanced Lottery permit after I pay?

We will mail out permits four to six weeks after the Advanced Lottery has run.